A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Sixty Five
When the royal jet lands Colonel Mitchell and Jodi are waiting for him as William walks off the plane. "Welcome home, Sir." Colonel Mitchell says, as he opens the door to the limo.
"Thank you Colonel." William says, getting into the car, followed by Jodi and then Colonel Mitchell. "Have we heard anything from Panama about renewing the trade agreements?"
"Yes, we have." Jodi says, looking at Colonel Mitchell.
"What is it?" William asks, looking at both of them.
"They are refusing to renew the trade agreement until the elections and the new leader is named."
"How long until the trade agreement expires?"
"It will expire within 48 hours after the election."
"Have we spoken to the Panamanian Ambassador?"
"We have a meeting set for late tomorrow afternoon."
Alright, have we heard anything from the British Ambassador about tonight's state dinner?"
"They will be here."
"Good. Is there anything else?"
"Sir, there have been some rumors that some of Prince Edmund's supports are trying to rally support to stop the elections next week."
"My brother's supports are not a threat any longer Colonel. Edmund is locked up and will likely stay that way for a very long time, if I have any say in the matter."
"He's had several visitors in the last few days."
"And we are keeping record of who comes to see him, correct?"
"Of course we are, but even with Edmund isolation and limited contact with the other prisoners and visitors; he might still have the power to instigate something. I believe we should keep him completely isolated until after the election."
"Alright, fine. Call the warden and give the orders. He's not to have visitors of any kind until after the election and that he's not to be allowed any access to other prisoners as well."
"Yes sir." Colonel Mitchell asks.
"Sir, may I ask how are your brother and Princess Cassie?" Jodi asks.
"They are wonderful. The wedding was wonderful. And I learned some very astonishing and wonderful new." William says, looking at Jodi.
"What's that sir?"
"Cassie's pregnant. She and Richard are expecting another child."
"But sir, she was told she couldn't have children anymore."
"I know, but something happened and they announced at the wedding that they are expecting."
"How far along is she?" Jodi asks.
"You know, I don't think they ever said. She can't be too far along though because she's not even showing yet."
"How is Ms. Peralta doing?"
"She is doing wonderfully. She's helping Sam finish the house that Jeffrey bought her. Jeffrey's recovering from a car accident though but he seemed to be doing quite well at the wedding."
"He was in a car accident, Sir." Colonel Mitchell asks.
"Yes, apparently he was on his way back to their new house when a teenager rear-ended him while he was texting on his cell phone. He's got a cut above his eyebrow and some broken ribs, but he seems to be healing."
"Is there any other news from Springfield, Sir?"
"No, not that I know of." William says, as they pull up to the palace. When the car stops, Colonel Mitchell opens the door and allows William to get out of the car before he gets out and then turns to help Jodi out. "Since I have nothing on the schedule until this evening, I'm going to my room to rest before tonight's party. If anything comes up Colonel, that's were I'll be." William says, as the staff comes for his luggage.
"Yes Sir." They both reply, following him as he walks into the palace.
The man that stopped Josh at the youth center walks into an old building on the south side of Springfield. There's a young man standing at the end of the hall, talking with a teenager and as Rueben walks up, the younger man says. "I don't want to see it again. If I do you will not be allowed back in."
"Yes sir." The teenager replies, glancing at the man standing behind them.
"Go on." Dorian says. The teenager leaves and Dorian turns to Rueben. "Rueben, I'm surprised to see you here." Dorian says, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"I came to talk to you about the youth center that's been started on the other side of town."
"I've told you. I like what I'm doing here. This is where I'm needed."
"You could bring these kids over there."
"Why? To hang out with the rich kids in their youth center, these kids have enough to deal with without feeling out of place by social standards."
"The youth center isn't about that. It's a place for all the kids that are at risk." Rueben says.
"And what would make the country club kids at risk?" Dorian asks, looking at Rueben. "They can have whatever they want, when ever they want it. They only have to ask Mommy and Daddy for it. These kids have no one to ask anything to or of."
"There's more than one way to be at risk. Come on, just come over there and see the program, meet the guys that built the place. Mr. Lewis and Father Ray, they really do care about all the kids in this town, all of them. I believe you'll like them."
"I'm really busy here." Dorian says, looking at back down the hallway.
"I'm only asking you to come and look around. You don't have to commit to anything, just come and look around."
"I'll see." Dorian says, as Rueben nods.
"I guess I'll have to settle for that. You definitely need to come by, but it's your choice."
"I'll see if I have time." Dorian says, as Rueben nods.
"I'll see you around then."
"Yes, I'll see you around." Dorian replies, as Rueben turns and walks away.
Reva is surprised not to see Josh pull in behind her when she reaches Cross Creek. After they left Jeffrey's loft she was too angry to pay attention and she assumed that Josh was following her home. Getting out of the car, she goes into the house, angry but relieved that he hadn't followed her home. Maybe he had learned some things over the years they had been together and surely he would realize how angry she was at him right now.
Laying her purse on counter, she goes over to the refrigerator and pulls the door open. She stares at the contents, wanting to reach for a beer but knowing that it wasn't recommended with the medication that she takes for the cancer, sighing she reaches for a bottle of water and then closes the door before she walks into the living room. An hour later, she's still sitting there when Billy knocks on the door. Getting up, she goes to answer the door. "Hi, Billy." She says, stepping back to let him in. "Did Josh send you over here?" She asks, closing the door behind them.
"No, why would he send me over here?"
"I thought maybe you saw him at Lewis."
"If he was there, I didn't see him. I've been in my office drawing up plans for Jeffrey's loft."
"Okay. What do you need?" She asks, walking into the living room.
"Well, I came to see if Josh was here. I wanted to see how the meetings went this morning with the new client and I didn't see his car when I left just now." Billy replies, following her into the living room.
"I don't know where he is. He doesn't tell me where he's going these last few months. Maybe he's at Jon's Bar again getting drunk, but if he is, I swear I will not go to the hospital this time."
"First, why would he be at Jon's Bar getting drunk and you know that if something did happen you would be the first one at the hospital."
"Not tonight I wouldn't." Reva replies, sitting down on the couch.
"Okay, do you want to tell me what's going on?" Billy asks, looking at her. There are several moments of silence while Reva looks out the window overlooking the front yard and driveway outside. "Reva." Billy asks.
"I think it's best if I start at the beginning."
"Okay."
"A few days before Richard and Cassie's wedding, I decided to put and end to all this stuff about Jeffrey."
"And how did you plan to do that?"
"I remember something that HB had given Marah, a necklace."
"The locket with his picture in it, I had forgotten about that."
"I did too, but then I remember it and I also remembered that I had cut a few locks of HB's hairs before his funeral after he died. I put them in the locket for Marah and told her that she would always have a piece of Grandpa HB with her. When I remember the locket, I decided to take some of the hair and get some hair from Jeffrey for a DNA test. So I found the locket and I went to see Sam."
"You went to see Sam."
"Yes, I was going to see Sam and explain the situation and ask for a lock or strands of Jeffrey's hair for the test."
"I didn't think about a DNA test because I didn't think we had anything to compare it to. So did Sam give you the sample?"
"I got the sample, but something came up when I got to the loft. I was expecting her to be alone and she wasn't, Jeffrey was there."
"So, how did you get the sample?" Reva looks back outside for a couple seconds before Billy says. "Reva."
"I got the sample the same way I planned to get it from Sam." Reva says, looking at him.
"Reva… you… you told him."
"Yes."
"Everything."
"Everything, all of it, I told him about the file Josh destroyed. I told him about the confrontation between you and Josh and your investigation. I told him about the report we found from the PI that HB had hired to find him. I explained everything."
"How did he react?"
"He didn't scream or shout. He didn't deny it. I think he was a little shock, definitely curious, so after I explained everything, I asked him for the sample and he gave it to me. I left shortly after that."
"When I got home, I called Rick and I asked him to run the DNA test for me and he agreed. We then decided to wait till after Cassie's wedding."
"I'm not sure how this ties to Josh except for the usual stuff."
"I'm getting to that. Monday I called Rick and I arranged to drop off the DNA sample, which I did."
"So we're waiting for the DNA results, I'm still not clear on why you're angry with Josh right now?"
"I'm getting to that. Rick called me this afternoon and says he has the results for the test. We make arrangements and I picked the test up from him."
"The results are already back?"
"Yes, Rick asked them to put a rush on the test. Anyway, he called me this afternoon and he says he's got the results for the test and we arrange for me to go to Cedars to pick them up. During this time, I didn't say a word to Josh about the DNA test or the fact that I had already told Jeffrey the truth about being HB's son."
"Okay, so you went to Cedars and got the test results."
"Yes, after I got the results I went back to my car and then I looked to see what the results were."
"And they were?" Billy asks, as Reva looks at him. "He's HB's son." Billy says, as Reva nods once.
"So this fight is about telling Jeffrey the results."
"No, after I read the results I went to Lewis and I showed Josh the results and told him what I had done. He was going to destroy the test results but I stopped him, threatening to tell Rick I needed another copy of the test and why I needed it and he gave the results back, but still insisted that we not tell Jeffrey the truth. I told him that Jeffrey already knew the truth and that we were waiting for the DNA test to confirm it."
"How did he respond?"
"They same as he usually does, insisting that we not tell Jeffrey the truth. I took the file and I left Lewis."
"You went to Jeffrey."
"Yes, I went to their loft and I gave him the DNA test. They read it. He was still shocked even though he had been told before hand. We talked for a few moments about Marah and then I invited them to Thanksgiving and Christmas. After that I got up to leave."
"And you left."
"Yes, I left but before I did, Sam hugged me and then Jeffrey hugged me. We said good-bye and Jeffrey walked me to the door. And before I left I told him that I was glad he was part of the family, no matter what Josh thinks. I hugged him again and kissed his cheek and that's when Josh walked up. He pulled me away from Jeffrey as he punched him."
"He didn't."
"He did and Jeffrey nearly fell and would have if he hadn't've been holding onto the door and me. I got between them as Sam comes out of the living room and sees Jeffrey about to fall and Josh yelling at him to keep his hands off me. At that point, I demand to know what Josh thinks he's doing and then turn to see if Jeffrey's okay. Josh is demanding to know why I'm asking if he's okay and I go off on Josh. When it's finished, I told them we would see them later after I invited them again to the holidays and then I dragged Josh out of there." Reva says, angry all over again as Billy sits back.
"So, Jeffrey knows he's HB's son. Josh knows that Jeffrey knows and you're mad at Josh for acting like Josh."
"Yes." Reva replies, looking at him. "But you're not surprised Josh did this?"
"No, I'm not surprised. Remember how he was when we were together and HB and remember how he was when I come looking for HB."
"So you think I should be patient with him, even forgiving."
"I know that's going to be hard for you. But let's stop and look at this from Josh's point of view. Let's set aside the fact that Jeffrey is another illegitimate child of HB's. I think Josh would not be so territorial if he wasn't afraid of loosing you. You have…."
"I am the slut of Springfield. This is my fault. Is that what you're trying to say Billy?"
"No, that's not what I'm trying to say. I'm only saying that I can understand why Josh doesn't want to loose you again. And I believe there's something else that's keeping Josh from accepting Jeffrey, something he may or may not be able to or willing to admit to himself."
"What?"
"Have you looked at Jeffrey, really looked at him?"
"Of course I have."
"And he looks exactly like Richard, right down to the mole on the right side of his upper lip."
"But Richard and Jeffrey are nothing alike, absolutely nothing alike. Josh has been around both of them enough to know that."
"He may have been around them, but this goes deeper than that."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I don't believe Josh has ever fully accepted your relationship with Richard. And I think he is afraid that he'll loose you not only because of the history you have with being involved with the Lewis men but also because you could have Richard in some form and I believe he believes that you can't resist that."
"That's absolutely ridiculous. My feelings for Richard were nothing but memories of being Catherine. I remember being her. I remember loving Richard as her, but I'm not Catherine. I figured that out when we went to San Jamar and decided what to do about Jon's life. And while Jeffrey and Richard look a like, their personalities are completely different. But none of this matters…."
"Of course it matters. You were going to say that it doesn't matter because Jeffrey is married to Sam. You know that, that has very little to do with it."
"It has everything to do with it. You're both forgetting something for anything to happen between Jeffrey and me. We both have to want something to happen. That's not going happen, because anyone can see who that man is in love with. And I would hope that anyone looking at me would see that I love Josh. I have always loved that man."
"You have a funny way of showing it." Josh says, from the front door as Reva and Billy looks up.
Billy gets up. "I'm going to go, because you have stuff to work out. We'll discuss the meeting with the new client later." He says, as Josh nods. "I'll see you later, darlin." Billy says, turning to Reva. She stands up and hugs him. "Go easy on him and think about what I said."
"I'll see you later." She says, as she kisses Billy's cheek.
Josh steps out of the way as Billy walks towards him, closing the door after he walks out. He turns to Reva. "You didn't follow me home." She says, sitting back down.
"I thought I would let you calm down a little bit."
"You punched him Josh. You punched your own brother because you're jealous of something that will never happen."
"Listen to me."
"I have listened to you. I know why you don't want Jeffrey to be apart of this family. I've told you over and over again that Jeffrey and I will never be more than what Billy and I are now but you refuse to believe me."
"Can you honestly tell me that you're not attracted to the man?"
"No, I'm not. I never have been attracted to him. And even if I was attracted to him, he's in love with and married to someone else."
"We both know that means very little."
"It only means very little if you refuse to face the truth. Why won't you believe me? It takes two for people to cheat and even if Jeffrey was interested, why can't you believe that I'm not?"
"Look at your history."
"So you're saying that I'm guilty simply because I was involved with HB and Billy. I married Richard. I had his son. I had Billy's son and would have had HB's child as well. And because of all that I am going to leave you and marry Jeffrey. Is that what you're saying? Is that the only reason I'm guilty in your eyes?" Josh doesn't reply. "Your silence speaks volumes." Reva says, getting up. "What I'm curious to know is how you could ever love me, if you have so low of an opinion of me." She says, before she leaves the living room.
Richard and Cassie are still on the front porch when the phone begins to ring in the cabin. "I'll get it." Richard says, getting up with Cassie following him.
"Who do you think it is?"
"I don't know." Richard says, as they walk in to the cabin and he reaches for the phone. "Hello." Richard says.
"Mr. Winslow."
"Yes."
"This is Mavis at the front cabin."
"Yes."
"Sir, we have a call for you from a Reva Shayne, do you want…?"
"Yes, put her through." Richard says, stopping Cassie as she goes into the kitchen. After a couple clicks the calls are connected. "Reva, are the boys…?"
"The boys are fine. I didn't think about calling and scaring you, I'm sorry."
"Its okay, how did you get the number?"
"I called Ms. Chitwood and asked her for it. I'm sorry to interrupt your honeymoon. I simply wanted to ask if you would mind if I stayed at the farm for a few days."
"I don't mind. I sure RJ and Will would love to spend time with you and Josh."
"Josh won't be with me."
"Okay, then they'll love to spend time with you. Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine. I'll let you go and thank you."
"You're welcome. We'll see you when we get home."
"I'll see you then." Reva says, hanging up the phone a few moments later. Getting out a small suitcase, she packs some clothes and then goes downstairs.
Josh is still in the living room when Reva comes back downstairs. She has a small suitcase with her. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going out to Cassie's farm until they come back from their honeymoon." Reva says, opening the door.
"Reva, we need to talk."
"I'm through talking Josh. You've made your point and since you know it all and you know that it's written in stone that I am going to leave you and marry Jeffrey, let's not fight it."
"What are you going to do when they get back?"
"I don't know. But I'm not staying in a place where my husband thinks I'm the family slut."
"Reva I never said, I thought…."
"You didn't have too Josh. You're attitude speaks volumes." Reva says, walking out of the house with Josh following her.
"You're running away Reva."
"Maybe I am." She says, with tears in her eyes. "I…. When you decide what you want to do, let me know?" She says, putting her suitcase in the car and getting in. Starting the car, she pulls away from Cross Creek with Josh staring after her.
"Boy, you really messed this up." HB says, in Josh's mind.
"Shut up, just shut up." Josh says, turning to go back into the house.
"What did Reva want?" Cassie asks, looking at Richard.
"She wanted to see if she could stay at the farm with the boys."
"She wants to stay at the farm, why?"
"I'm not really sure, she didn't say."
"Is Josh staying with her?"
"No." Richard says, going into the living room with Cassie following him.
"What did she say?"
"She said she was sorry that she interrupted us on our honeymoon and scaring us about the boys and then she asked if we cared if she stayed at the farm for a few days. I told we didn't and that the boys would love to spend time with her."
"How did she sound?"
"What do you mean, how did she sound?"
"Did she sound happy, upset, was she crying, how did she sound?"
"She sounded like Reva."
"Richard, you're not helping me here?"
"I don't know Cassie. She sounded like Reva. She might have sounded down a little bit."
"Did she say why Josh wasn't staying with her?"
"No, he's probably busy. Are we going to spend all night talking about your sister? I believe you owe me an apology."
"I owe you an apology. How do you figure that?"
"You made me fix my own dinner."
"You were being punished for…."
"I don't care." Richard says, leaning in and kissing her.
She reaches up and wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him. He slips his hands under her shirt, pulling her against him, deepening the kiss. Breaking the kiss, she whispers. "Richard."
Leaning his forehead against hers, he lays his hands at her waist. Leaning in, he softly kisses the tip of her nose. She leans up, catching his mouth and kissing him again as her hand settle at his waist and he pulls back. "Before we get too carried away here, let's go back upstairs." He says, reaching for her hand. She follows him upstairs.
When they reach their bedroom, Richard turns to her. Pulling her into his arms, he kisses her as she wraps her arms around him, pulling him to her. Slipping her tongue in to play with his, she slowly moves her hands up his back. He lays his hand on her waist, above her panties. His thumbs are laying on her stomach and he can feel her breathing deepen. He breaks the kiss, sucking in a deep breath, fighting the roaring desire rushing through him. "Richard." She says softly, looking at him.
"I don't know why, but I'm desperate for you." He whispers, closing his eyes.
She reaches up and pulls the shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. He stares at her, watching the way her breast rise and fall with each breath she pulls in, in his mind, hearing the hammering rhythm of her heart beat, beating beneath her throat. He looks up and sees the semi-glazed look in her eyes. She takes a step closer to him. Laying her hands on his chest, she leans up to nibble on his lower lips, whispering. "I'm desperate for you too."
Reaching for her, he wraps one arm around her waist the other he lays at her throat, pulling her against him. He feels her nipples pressing against his chest. He can feel each breath she draws, feels the hammering rhythm of her heartbeat against his thumb. Catching her mouth, he kisses her again. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, playing with her while she buries her fingers in his hair, she lets him devour her.
He lifts her, wrapping his arms around her as she wraps her legs around his waist, pressing her lower body to his. He can smell her desire and he feels his head swim with intoxication. Slowly he walks over to the bed, kissing her as he walks. His knee bumps the bed and he lays her down as he leans over her. He slowly moves away from her mouth, nibbling along her jaw as he moves over to her ear. "I love you." He whispers, before taking her ear into his mouth, nibbling as she turns her head away from him, sucking in a deep breath.
She moves her hands down his back, to his hips. She stops for a moment before he pulls back, looking at her. "I love you too." She whispers looking up, their gazes locking. He leans down, pressing his lips against her throat. He feels her swallow, feels the thump of her heartbeat against his lips. Slowly she moves her hand up, moving them over his lower stomach. Playing with his belly button for a moment before she continues, moving up his chest. She stops for a while when she reaches his nipples, playing with him.
He follows her example, moving down from her neck, lightly kissing her, moving his tongue over her upper chest until he reaches the valley between her breasts. He softly kisses her between her breasts as he looks up, watching her. Looking down, she smiles at him before she reaches up, running her fingers over his cheek. He kisses her left breast softly, moving up to her nipple until she arches her back, reaching for him.
Closing his mouth over her nipple, he plays with her as she closes her eyes. She lets her body go, falling into the flames of desire, licking through her. She reaches up, burying her fingers in his hairs, she holds him to her, concentrating completely on what he's doing with his mouth. She doesn't realize how much she needs him to touch other breast until he closes his hand over her other breast, gently squeezing it.
It's not long before she wants more. Lifting her hips, she silently asks him for more. He pulls away, looking down and smiling at her. "Are you crazy yet?"
"Touch me and find out." She whispers, reaching for his jeans as he slips his hand under her panties. "Richard." She moans when he touches her. He lifts his head, watching her as he slowly moves his fingers over her, caressing her. He lays a gentle kiss on her stomach as he pulls his hand away after a few short seconds. "No." She whispers, raising her hips, reaching for him.
He reaches for her panties, pulling them down while she reaches to help him. he pulls them down her legs and she kicks them off, opening her body for him, as he leans over her, kissing her stomach, he moves down to her navel, kissing her, playing with her. He moves down, holding her open as he leans in and kisses her. He plays with her desire, gently licking her until she's almost to the point of release.
Pulling away, he gets up. Unbuttoning his jeans, he pulls the zipper down before he pushes his jeans and boxers down. She leans up on her elbow, looking at his erection before she looks up, holding out one hand. He moves back onto the bed, catching her mouth as he pulls her to him. Slipping inside her, kissing her as he thrusts deep inside her, he feels her body clinch around his. He surges forward over and over again, building their desire but never letting her release free. She reaches for him, holding onto him, she pulls him to her. Rolling her hips as he pulls away, keeping them connected. "Cassie!" He groans, closing his eyes and he throws his head back.
He thrusts inside her again, increasing the tempo. Desire surges through them, over and over until he feels her body quivering beneath him. He looks down and realizes she's fighting her release. He leans down and whispers. "Go on, please Cassie." He thrusts again and he feels her body shatter against him.
Surge after surge of her release rolls over her, her body massaging his erection as he continues to thrust. When the strongest waves surge through her he thrusts and groans as the tension inside him bursts free, rushing through him and flooding her body with his release, he's finally still, while stream after stream of his release pours out of him until he finally crumples into her waiting arms, each of them sucking in deep breaths.